author
Cecil J. (Cecil James) Sharp
1859–1924
A driving force behind the English folk revival, he helped preserve songs and dances that might otherwise have disappeared. His work reached from rural England to the Appalachian Mountains, leaving a lasting mark on traditional music studies.
1 Audiobook
The Morris Book, Part 1 A History of Morris Dancing, With a Description of Eleven Dances as Performed by the Morris-Men of England
by Cecil J. (Cecil James) Sharp, Herbert C. MacIlwaine
About the author
Born in London in 1859, Cecil James Sharp was an English musician, teacher, and collector who became one of the most influential figures in the study of folk song and dance. He was educated at Uppingham School and the University of Cambridge, and over time turned his attention toward documenting traditional music at a moment when many older local traditions were fading.
Sharp is best known for collecting and publishing English folk songs and for his important work on morris dancing. He played a central role in the early 20th-century folk revival, gathering material in the English countryside and arguing that traditional music deserved serious attention. His later work in the Appalachian region of the United States also helped preserve songs with deep roots in the British tradition.
He died in London in 1924, but his influence has lasted well beyond his lifetime. For readers interested in music, folklore, or cultural history, his life offers a fascinating look at how much of the traditional repertory survived because someone took the time to listen, write it down, and share it.